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The two new members will lead to greater competitiveness through their experience in international hotel chains. Barcelona, 10th March '14. - The new Crowne Plaza Hotel Barcelona Fira Center renews positions in the management of operations and reception in order to gain competitiveness following the recent re-branding with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) .The hotel general manager, Enrique Escofet aims "to incorporate new, young talent, with a career in international hotel companies to reach new goals during this challenging period of change."

Miguel Angel Doblado and Maria Montero have joined the team as director of operations and as head of reception, respectively, agreeing in their purposes: "to meet the standards of the IHG brand and reposition the hotel as one of the best in Barcelona, ​​without leaving behind the professionalism that characterised the Fira Palace." As Doblado says, "comprehensive reform of facilities ensures greater competitiveness." Montero, meanwhile, ensures that the investment in the comfort of the rooms and technology "make the hotel the best Crowne Plaza in Europe, as they adjust to the real needs of their customers."

20.02.2014 - IHG lands in Barcelona with the Crowne Plaza after an agreement with the Hotel Fira Palace

The new Crowne Plaza ®Barcelona - Fira Center is the result of the alliance

Barcelona, ​​20th Feb. 2014 - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the largest hotel companies in the world, has signed a franchise agreement with Hotel Fira SAU thus inaugurating its first Crowne Plaza ® hotel in Barcelona: Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center.

The hotel, which has undergone comprehensive reform over the past two years, has 3000m2 of space for conferences and functions, which has allowed it to lead the MICE segment of the city and makes it one of the largest facilities of the entire portfolio of Crowne Plaza properties in Europe. Its 276 rooms, which claim to be the largest in all of Barcelona's hotel offer, have been remodelled with regards technology and comfort, this was also taken into account when equipping the new club lounge, the wellness centre and gym.

As well as its facilities, its excellent location, situated at the foot of Montjuic, next to Plaza España, was crucial in determining the suitability of the new IHG franchisee. Development Director of the hotel group in Spain and Portugal, Hylko Versteeg also highlights the group's interest in the Catalan capital to continue growing in Spain: "Barcelona is a key city for us and our Crowne Plaza brand fits in perfectly in this area. The new hotel will certainly offer major competitive advantages. The SAU Fira Hotel is the perfect partner. "

Barcelona, ​​20th Feb. 2014 - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the largest hotel companies in the world, has signed a franchise agreement with Hotel Fira SAU thus inaugurating its first Crowne Plaza ® hotel in Barcelona: Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center.

The hotel, which has undergone comprehensive reform over the past two years, has 3000m2 of space for conferences and functions, which has allowed it to lead the MICE segment of the city and makes it one of the largest facilities of the entire portfolio of Crowne Plaza properties in Europe. Its 276 rooms, which claim to be the largest in all of Barcelona's hotel offer, have been remodelled with regards technology and comfort, this was also taken into account when equipping the new club lounge, the wellness centre and gym.

As well as its facilities, its excellent location, situated at the foot of Montjuic, next to Plaza España, was crucial in determining the suitability of the new IHG franchisee. Development Director of the hotel group in Spain and Portugal, Hylko Versteeg also highlights the group's interest in the Catalan capital to continue growing in Spain: "Barcelona is a key city for us and our Crowne Plaza brand fits in perfectly in this area. The new hotel will certainly offer major competitive advantages. The SAU Fira Hotel is the perfect partner. "

Meanwhile, Enrique Escofet, General Manager of the Hotel Fira SAU stresses the importance of being part of a global brand. "The fact of being part of Crowne Plaza will generate confidence in the international circuit, something that will benefit not only the hotel but the industry in general, and also the city."

The newly opened Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center (Before called the Fira Palace) is to participate in the new edition of Restaurant Week to be held in Barcelona and Madrid from 28th March to 6th April.

For this first time that the event will feature the participation of El Mall, the chef has prepared a tasting style menu starting with a "Vasito de xato de Sitges" with romesco which is followed by a "rostit" cannelloni with foie gras sauce and crispy ham. As a final highlight, Tuna is served roasted with girgolas, onions and the roasting juices which is followed by a dessert of Pineapple carpaccio with frozen yoghurt to round it all off.

About El Mall Restaurant:

With over 20 years of history, El Mall Restaurant is located inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel Barcelona Fira Center, just minutes from the Plaza España and Paralell, in the heart of Poble Sec, currently the hottest zone in Barcelona, gastronomically speaking.

With a classic and refined air, El Mall features vaulted ceilings, large windows and an elegant setting making it the perfect setting for a business lunch or intimate dinner.

The Mall offers Mediterranean cuisine with classic inspiration but a modern feel, caring especially about the selection of raw materials, avoiding eccentric preparation in order to concentrate on flavour exaltation, as the main premise.

About European Solidarity

With over 100,000€ raised to date, The Restaurant Week combines the work of promoting knowledge of dining spaces with a humanitarian aspect and social responsibility. Therefore, to the price of 24€ plus VAT on the menu, it always adds 1 additional € for solidarity, on this occasion the proceeds will be donated to the Menudos Corazones Foundation to support the project of Music Therapy in the paediatric ICU with hospitalised children.

Restaurante El Mall / Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center

Av. Rius i Taulet, 1-3

E-08004 Barcelona

crowneplaza.com/barcelonafira

T: 00-34-934262223

10.01.2014 - IHG lands in Barcelona with the Crowne Plaza after an agreement with the Hotel Fira Palace

The new Crowne Plaza ®Barcelona - Fira Center is the result of the alliance

Barcelona, ​​10 January 2014 - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the largest hotel companies in the world, has signed a franchise agreement with Hotel Fira SAU to open its first Crowne Plaza ® hotel in Barcelona: Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center. The hotel is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2014.

The hotel, which has undergone comprehensive reform over the past two years, has 3000m2 of space for conferences and functions, which has allowed it to lead the MICE segment of the city and makes it one of the largest facilities of the entire portfolio of Crowne Plaza properties in Europe. Its 276 rooms, which claim to be the largest in all of Barcelona's hotel offer, have been remodelled with regards technology and comfort, this was also taken into account when equipping the new club lounge, the wellness centre and gym.

As well as its facilities, its excellent location, situated at the foot of Montjuic, next to Plaza España, was crucial in determining the suitability of the new IHG franchisee. Development Director of the hotel group in Spain and Portugal, Hylko Versteeg also highlights the group's interest in the Catalan capital to continue growing in Spain: "Barcelona is a key city for us and our Crowne Plaza brand fits in perfectly in this area. The new hotel will certainly offer major competitive advantages. The SAU Fira Hotel is the perfect partner. "

Meanwhile, Enrique Escofet, General Manager of the Hotel Fira SAU stresses the importance of being part of a global brand. "The fact of being part of Crowne Plaza will generate confidence in the international circuit, something that will benefit not only the hotel but the industry in general, and also the city."

10.07.2013 - The Fira Palace is awarded by comments from its guests. The hotel receives the certificate of Holiday Check Quality Selection

Holiday Check has given the Hotel Fira Palace Barcelona the certification of Holiday Check Quality Selection, thus rewarding the favourable opinions it had obtained from its customers.

The hotel director for sales and marketing, Maria Jose Martinez stressed "the importance of achieving maximum satisfaction of guests to meet business objectives in the medium and long term."

Among the comments from customers, they value the treatment of staff, the location and gastronomy, above other aspects.

Holiday Check is the largest online hotel portal in Europe with 23 million monthly users who plan their holiday through its website.

06.06.2013 - The Hotel Fira Palace renews the largest rooms in Barcelona. The reform affects all of its 276 rooms, whinch will gain in terms of comfort and technology.

The Fira Palace hotel has renovated all of its rooms, both standard and executive, with a comprehensive reform intended to "make the experience of our business and leisure customers perfect" as Enrique Escofet, who took over the management of the emblematic hotel located at the foot of Montjuic in late 2012.

The Fira Palace hotel has renovated all of its rooms, both standard and executive, with a comprehensive reform intended to "make the experience of our business and leisure customers perfect" as Enrique Escofet, who took over the management of the emblematic hotel located at the foot of Montjuic in late 2012.

The biggest hotel rooms in the city, of more than 40 square meters in surface area, have been equipped with queen size beds and stressless armchairs. In terms of decoration, light coloured walls and custom-made furniture stand out, playing with the contrast provided by the darker tones of the accessories, without reducing brightness and harmony in the rooms with exterior views, which depending on the location benefit from the view of the MNAC, the National Museum of Contemporary Art -.

The hotel has also invested in a new wifi system, which allows you to have the best coverage and speed for all connections. There is technology that includes a Media Hub for connecting clients' personal mobile devices to Smart 55 inch TVs, installed in all rooms.

Among the objectives in the short and medium term, Escofet highlights "repositioning the Fira Palace Hotel as one of the main business hotels in Barcelona," he says.

02.05.2013 - The Fira Palace Hotel strengthens its commercial structure and revenue. After a thorough renovation, the incorporation of MaJosé Martínez and Begoña Borrego will provide the expertise to meet new challenges.

The Fira Palace hotel has strengthened its marketing and sales departments and revenue by incorporating MaJosé Martínez and Begoña Borrego who, respectively, manage the various departments. Both executives have agreed to join the new project for the "professional challenge of working in one of the leading hotels in Barcelona and also one of international prestige," as stated by the new revenue manager, Begoña Borrego Ma. The immediate goal is to "launch and reposition the Fira Palace as a benchmark of quality, competitiveness and security for all our customers, both in the MICE segment as well as the corporate and leisure customers," said Ma José Martínez, who heads the department of sales and marketing.

Borrego also hopes to maximize results "through healthy segmentation directed towards a qualitative increase in RevPAR". Prior to their new positions, the two professionals were in the Melia chain; MaJosé Martinez as director of sales in Melia Barcelona, ​​Meliá Hotels International and Begoña Borrego as director of Revenue Management.